Seeing me perplexed and frowning, she laughed and took the empty bowl from my hands, and set it aside. Then she smoothed my pillow.
"I am employed by the garrison," said she, "to work for them with needle and shears. I do their mending; I darn, stitch, sew, and alter. I patch shirts and under-garments; I also make shirts, and devise officers' neck-cloths, stocks, and wrist-bands at request.
"Also, I now employ a half-breed Oneida woman as tailoress; and she first measures and then I cut out patterns of coats, breeches, rifle-frocks, and watch-coats, which she then takes home and sews, then tries on her customers, and finally finishes,—I sewing on all galons, laces, and braids.... And so you see I pay my way, Mr. Drogue, and am in no stress for the present at any rate."
"Good heavens!" said I amazed, "I never dreamed that you were so employed!"
"But I am obliged to eat, John Drogue!"
"I have sufficient for both," I muttered. "I thought it was understood——"
"That I should live on your bounty, my lord?"
"Will you ever have done with lording me?" I said angrily. "I think you do it to plague me."
"I ask forgiveness," she murmured, still smiling. "Also, I crave pardon for refusing to live on your kind bounty."
"I do not mean it that way!" said I sharply. "Besides, you kept Summer House for us, and did all things indoors and most things outdoor; and had no pay for the labour——"